Mmastodon WorldPolitics first seen 13 h ago, last 13 h ago, peak #1

Viral claim that drone strike hit Russian bot farm debunked

Original: awwwww.......the fun is over "Drone Strikes Didn’t Take Out a Russian Bot Farm, But We Were Primed to Believe It " # Pol

A widely shared story claimed Ukrainian drone strikes destroyed a Russian bot farm running pro-MAGA, AfD and Reform UK narratives, but reporting shows the strike did not take out any such operation. The episode highlights how readily audiences accepted the rumour because it fit existing expectations about Russian influence campaigns, with commentators noting the claim spread before anyone verified it.

Why now: A viral rumour about a drone strike on a Russian bot farm was debunked, prompting discussion of why people believed it.

RussiaUkraineMother JonesAfDReform UK

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• awwwww.......the fun is over "Drone Strikes Didn’t Take Out a Russian Bot Farm, But We Were Primed to Believe It " # Politics https://www. motherjones.com/politics/2026/ 10/ukraine-drone-strike-yandex-russian-bot-farm-right-wing-maga-afd-reform-uk-conspiracy-theory-viral-rumor/ · MikeImBack@mstdn.ca · 4

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